Twelve Days 12日 (2023) - Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia 🇦🇺)
Writer-director Aubrey Lam Oi-wah returns to her directorial debut from 23 years ago in “Twelve Nights” that captures the ups and downs of a relationship. In “Twelve Days”, the film captures 12 days of a marriage that is destined to fail, not because of the manner how the characters grew out of each other, but rather the fact that the male lead played by Edward Ma remains so one-dimensional with almost zero redeeming qualities. This is made worse with a storyline that drags along with nothing tangible holding the relationship together. Stephy Tang who have come of age in recent years returns to star in precisely the kind of roles that is more suited for a poor and cliche Patrick Kong’s vehicle.
With almost zero chemistry between the co-leads, it is easy to imagine how the relationship is bounded to fail with marriage or not. Director Lam appears to be more interested in alluding to her far more superior first film that deals with real emotions and concerns. Here, we get two paper cut characters that does not relate to the audience and remains just as disconnect as the credits began to roll.
All in all, “Twelve Days” fails to deliver a compelling storyline that resonate with modern marriage or an intelligent audience that grew up on much smarter movies. Stephy Tang is a much better actress with on-screen charisma and charm that deserves a better vehicle. Meanwhile, Edward Ma leaves a lot to desire with an expressionless role that means little as he fails to deliver a well rounded character. Director Audrey Lam gets a 2nd chance to make an even more compelling film, instead, the audience are left to recall the better original and finding ways to forget the current viewing.
I rated it 5/10
